German famous sports club FC Schalke04 empowers its marketing activities by using a 3D model of its arena / Intensified marketing by virtual banner advertising / First interactive 3D stadium presenting live atmosphere / 3D Software provider Bitmanagement gets follow up order to develop additional features / Already generated 3D model offers features like interactivity, walkthrough and allows different possibilities of E-commerce business/ New generation of avatars makes 3D simulated models come closer to true-to-life

The famous Sports and Soccer club FC Schalke 04 has made a big step into the modern marketing practice by using a 3D virtual reality model of its Veltins Arena for marketing activities. Now, that the club will further extend its sales efforts, the German 3D Software provider Bitmanagement Software GmbH got a follow up order from Schalke 04. The order is focused on banner advertising which should make it easier to gain orders from sponsoring companies. More over the marketing efforts will be facilitated by implementing an additional “atmospheric” feature which will create a true-to-live spirit in the virtual stadium. Not far from reality thousands of virtual soccer fans presented via avatars that way will welcome the football team frenetically. Particularly this scene is supported by an original sound track of fan jubilation or club song. In this way the Schalke 04 Club breaks new ground to attract advertising agencies, sponsors as well as consumers by using the 3D model as a huge advertising platform.

The interactive 3D model of the Veltins Arena can also make the dream of many fans come true by getting the chance to enter the virtual stadium and to enjoy the deep feeling, in which regularly only player can participate, namely to feel being watched by thousands of fans and welcomed with overwhelming clap.

Because the UEFA gave the Veltins-Arena the status of an elite stadium, the arena is allowed to host final games of the UEFA Champions League as well as the UEFA Europe League. The Veltins Arena inclusive the 3D model therefore belongs to the most important stadiums in Germany.

New Generation of Avatars make 3D Models even more realistic

Static Avatars which are presently be used in 3D models does not give a real impression of manlike characters. Therefore they do not match to bring real atmosphere into 3D models. What is a 3D model of a soccer arena-in fact life like simulated – but with empty tiers, without fan clap? What about a3D simulated Railway Station without running passengers, home rushing people? All these models will remain just models, not showing the typical atmosphere. To change it, however is the exact purpose of the follow up order which Schalke 04 has placed with Bitmanagement.

The new generation allows developing huge gatherings. So stadiums giving the real impression of being crowded of animated soccer fans,
huge Railway Stations and Airports showing a tangle of busy people. In this application original sound track of fan jubilation can additionally be integrated.
The new avatars however can also be implemented as single persons, for instance waiting at the bus station or crossing a street. For a look at the actual
virtual 3D model of Veltins Arena http://www.veltins-arena.de/3d/arena-in-3d.html .

Bitmanagement is a provider of multimedia software with a focus on online interactive 3D visualization. The multimedia technology for 2D/3D, audio and video is real-time and Internet-ready. Based on the ISOstandard formats VRML/X3D, CityGML and COLLADA, and Java, it allows an Interactive visualization of concepts and products.

Bitmanagement develops and markets a product portfolio of visualization software, which is composed of visualization software (BS Contact VRML / X3D, MPEG-4, Geo, Stereo and Mobile), documentation (BS SDK Package) for animation and different programming tools up to Workflow optimization such as BS Encrypt.

Besides software development the company specializes on content production. The focus is here on creation of interactive online capable 3D models - mainly high resolution city models – based on a cost efficient offshore team of 3D artists.

Bitmanagement was founded in 2002 by three former employees of the Blaxxun Interactive AG, Munich. The company achieved sales growth and positive results in 2011 and is "cash flow positive" since its founding.

Bitmanagement is a board member of the "Web3D Consortium" (USA), which is responsible for the standardization and dissemination of 3D ISO standards for the Internet. Bitmanagement is also simultaneously a member of the" 3D Consortium "for the dissemination of stereoscopic visualization.